The title complex [Nd(o-NO₂-C₆H₄COO)₃(DMF)₂]₂ has been synthesized by the reaction of Nd(NO₃)₃ •nH₂O with o-nitrobenzoic acid (C₇H₅O₄N) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The complex resides on an inversion center. The structure of the complex was characterized by the method of IR, ¹H NMR, UV, elemental analysis, fluorescent emission spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The results show that the complex crystallizes in a triclinic system, space group P-1 with cell parameters a＝1.18652(12) nm, b＝1.24784(13) nm, c＝1.29958(13) nm, α＝64.220 (1)°, β＝66.306 (1)°, γ＝71.825 (1)°, V＝1.5645 (3) nm³, D_c＝2.167 mg/m³, Z＝2, μ＝3.415 mm^－1 and F(000)＝986. Each Nd(III) atom is bridged by four o-nitrobenzoates and chelated by one o-nitrobenzoate. The Nd(III) atom is eight-coordinated by six oxygen atoms from five o-nitrobenzoates and two oxygen atoms from two DMF molecules. Hydrogen bonds and aromatic π…π stacking interactions assemble the title complex into a three dimensional network. Luminescence measurement shows that the complex emits fluorescence.

Key words: neodymium complex, synthesis, crystal structure, fluorescence